Monday, August 24, 2009

Do you remember your first few days of college? When your family drops you off and you tearfully say goodbye? But you soon forget about that because it's college and you're having so much fun!

But are you? Really?

Everyone says it's so fun so you say that you love it. But. You have no friends. You have no car. Your mattress is made of foam. You share a bathroom with too many people who aren't nearly as neat as you. And it turns out your roommate isn't going to be that long lost BFF.

You're truly homesick.

But then there's a party. Or an orientation event. Or you join a group. Or you luck out and have a really great group of students in your Spanish 101 class. And then things start to click. You meet people and you laugh together and you study together and stay up late together because there are no parents to tell you to go to bed. And then voilà! You have friends! And now you're not lying when you say you love college.

That's how it's been with our move.

I was tearful in the beginning. I missed my clean house. I missed having windows from the past decade that didn't need a wooden stick to keep them open. (There are many things to love about old houses but windows are not one of them.) I missed my treeless backyard because, I admit it, I'm a sun worshipper. I missed my next-door neighbor and her three kiddos. I missed the flow of our familiar routine.

Many times last week, as he lay in bed, William asked to go home. It took all my effort not to choke up when I had to explain to him that this is home.

But then on Friday, returning from a family walk to the park, we were invited across the street to our neighbor's house. On most Friday nights in the summer this family of six sets up a projection screen in their backyard, pops some popcorn and chills some juice boxes. All the little kiddies in a one block radius (and their parents) are invited to their backyard movie night.

It was the coolest thing ever.

With about 20 kids in attendance our little social butterfly was in heaven. Especially when one little boy brought out his dinosaur set.

Brian and I met about five other sets of parents that night and each was as warm and welcoming as any neighbor could hope for.

Since that night William no longer asks to go home because I think, like me, he's feeling a little more nestled in this new nest of ours. It's amazing how a little warm kindness from others can heal the blues.

I think this fellow may have also played a small role in curing his homesickness.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Here it is! Much requested, much anticipated. Mr. William will play as your tour guide.

One of the biggest selling points for me was the kitchen so we'll start there. It's pretty much a cook's and/or baker's dream. Of which I try to (and enjoy being) both.

Although the kitchen was completely renovated, the previous owners made sure to keep some of the old world charm. Hence the farm sink and glass knobs and pulls.

But it doesn't get any more modern than this. A GE Profile commercial grade ranger. Hello, lover!

And although the kitchen is smallish, there's more cabinet space than you'd think. My kitchen boxes are completely unpacked but I still have plenty of empty shelves. That's thanks mostly in part to genius ideas like this.

The cabinet pulls out. Wait for it...

And then swivels to reveal two more large sliding drawers in back. I found this perfect for hiding my blender, slow cooker and food processor.

To ensure there's plenty of space to work on above, or maybe just to show off those gorgeous countertops...

...there's a drawer that takes away the need for a knife block. And right next to that is the silverware drawer which stacks and slides--a two for one of sorts.

In our old house I had to keep all my spices in a box in the closet.

But here I just pull out my nifty spice rack. Of course, I alphabetized my spices. That's what OCDers do best.

This kitchen isn't all about function. There are cutesy parts too.

Like this wall by the refrigerator that serves as a chalkboard. Think menu planning, a grocery list or just a space to occupy the kiddos while I cook up dinner.

Alright so you get it. I love the kitchen. But I'll move on.

This house isn't all about renovation. In fact, the previous owners took pride in retaining much of the original 1923 charm.

Like this built-in buffet in the dining room. It's mostly empty now but I'm excited to unpack my wedding china which currently resides in my mom's basement.

And then there's these built-in bookcases on either side of the wood-burning fireplace. As you can see we still haven't unpacked our books. (Sorry about the darkness. It's a rainy day.)

Moving upstairs...

There's the original stair runner.

Also a good spot for sleeping apparently.

There's a door at the end of the upstairs hallway that leads to a small deck. Brian likes to call this the smoking deck. Of course neither of us smokes so for now it's just a good cross breeze. My Realtor told me that these were often built in older homes so that the women had a place to shake out their rugs. I'm not sure if that's true but it's a pretty good idea.

The bathroom has an updated sink and toilet.

But the mirror is true to the time period.

Back downstairs I forgot to mention one of my favorite parts.

A porch!

Complete with a window seat.

There's hardwood under that ugly carpeting so that's a project for another day. Right now it's mostly a dumping ground for toys and other miscellaneous items but we'll get furniture out there when our bank account recovers.

The basement is nothing special but it does give us space for a computer, Brian's music paraphernalia, an extra bathroom with shower and room for William to spread out his flashcards from his Hooked on Phonics kit that I won not too long ago thanks to Stephanie who hosted the contest.

What am I missing?

Ah, yes. The bedrooms. You'll have to wait on those. There are no pictures to be taken in the bedrooms due mostly to the fact that I can't open the doors for all the boxes of clothes that still need putting away. All in good time my friends.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

The big move is over and done and my biggest lesson has been something mothers have been told for years. If you don't take care of yourself first, the whole empire will come crumbling down.

OK, so the whole empire didn't come crumbling down, thanks mostly to family and friends, but I sure did.

Immediately after the house closings on Wednesday I came down with mastitis. You can Google it for more information but basically it's a breast infection from nursing that causes flu like symptoms.

It's evil.

I knew what it was when I started to feel it because my sister-in-law has had it twice. I called my midwife and thank the lord, she prescribed me antibiotics over the phone.

I thought if I could just get in a couple doses of medication before bed I would be golden for the move the next day.

No such luck.

The last night in our old house was spent in my sleeping bag (bed was in the truck) half shivering from the chills and half sweating from my fever.

When Thursday morning came I felt worse than the day before. But I powered through it gathering up the last little bits from our old house and tearfully saying goodbye.

On to the new house. I turned the key and woosh! the nausea overcame me. I quickly ran upstairs and christened our new toilet.

My friend Jill and my entire family showed up not long after. They cleaned and they unloaded and they brought food. But most importantly they saw to it that setting up my bed took top priority. For all of them I have infinite gratitude.

Friday I felt OK. Saturday I felt better. Sunday I felt 100%.

My little Lucy girl has been a trooper through it all. I continued to nurse her the entire time I was sick. Thankfully the two bottles that we own were packed at the bottom of some box somewhere in the mix so I didn't even have that easy-out option.

My milk started to ween with my antibiotics and it took a couple of days to get the dosage just right but she stuck with me the entire time albeit frustrated and probably pretty hungry.

William is back from Camp Nana. Brian is back at work. The house is clean. The boxes are mostly unpacked. OK, you got me. Maybe only two-thirds unpacked.

But we're here!

So far, I'm in love with the neighbors and the 'hood. As for the house? I think I fell in love with that the instance my bed was ready for my aching head.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

On the way there I turned off the radio. I opened the windows. I tried to shoo my worries out into the hot summer breeze. And I prayed. A lot.

I admit it. My hands were a bit shaky. And I think the teller could hear the quiver in my voice as I told her the amount I needed in the form of a cashier's check please.

It was nice knowing ya, extra large savings account.

Thank you for helping us buy a car. And a TV. And a new piano for Brian. Thank you for keeping us credit card debt free. Thank you for helping us cut our student loans in half and then some. Thank you for greeting me each time I logged on to my online banking account.

But mostly, thank you for letting us be able to buy this house.

Why hello! It's nice to meet you, smallish but still adequate savings account. I know you have no room for splurges. Or trips. Or other frivolous things. But if you can cushion us if things don't go according to plan, I think we'll get along just fine.

I'll be offline while I move my family to our new home.

Our new Internet connection should be up and running by this weekend and you can bet I'll be back by then with some show-and-tell.

Friday, August 7, 2009

They tend to suck up most of the time, energy, money and space we used to have all to ourselves. But they make our marriage complete.

But they are not ALL of our marriage.

Early to bed tonight, kiddies. It's time for mommy and daddy.

We'll hear a swish as much of our bank account empties at Wednesday's house closings so move over 5-star restaurants, expensive bottles of wine and lavish hotel rooms. We've got frozen buffalo wings to chomp on and cheep beer to sip. We might even throw in a rented DVD or play an exciting game of Scrabble. We're crazy like that!

But, hey, I just read that the traditional gift for a fifth wedding anniversary is wood so at least we've got that going for us. Plenty of wood in that new house or ours.

Sunday, August 2, 2009

It was my high school 10-year class reunion on Saturday. My head hurts, my voice is hoarse and my eyes are sleepy. It was awesome.

Unfortunately someone forgot to pass the memo on to the kiddies that today would be a sleep-in day and, in general, extra-slow.

But it was still worth it.

Saturday started out bright and early with a round of golf.

Here I am with my ladies. Yes, we are wearing sweatshirts and yes, it was August 1st. Welcome to Minnesota.

Here's my cart co-pilot. She's also the one that keeps my (and the rest of my family's) hair looking BEA-utiful.

Look at that swing! What a hottie.

After golf we scurried home so that I could feed my Lucy girl and take a hot shower to warm up. Seriously, summer. Where are you?

Here's my ladies beautified post-golf.

Brian was a good sport. We didn't go to the same high school so he should be commended for even coming along. But as the night wore on and I kept finding new people to catch up with, I think he may have gotten a bit on the bored side. The proof is in this random picture I found on my camera.